Vitamin B3: The Pros and Cons

If you are looking to lower your cholesterol, there's a good chance you should be taking more vitamin B3, which is also commonly referred to as niacin. Niacin is a vitamin that has a variety of pros and cons to it. For starters, you should know that niacin often refers to a variety of different forms of vitamin B3. You probably will not be able to tell the difference between any of them, but the truth is that they all have different pros and cons to them. From nicotinic acid and nicotinamide to inositol hexaniacinate, vitamin B3 comes in a variety of different forms. But, in general, there are some basic pros and cons that you should know about before you start taking vitamin B3.

The Pros Of Taking Vitamin B3

The great thing about incorporating more vitamin B3 into your diet is that vitamin B3 can help you significantly if you suffer from problems involving cholesterol. At the present time, nicotinic acid, the most common form of vitamin B3, is proven to help lower your cholesterol over time. It does this by fighting against the bad cholesterol in your body and raising the amount of good cholesterol that's present in your body. This is one of the most beneficial things that vitamin B3 can do for your body and, if you suffer from high cholesterol, you should seriously consider taking vitamin B3 to help out your condition.

The Cons Of Taking Vitamin B3

While vitamin B3 can certainly help you with your cholesterol levels, there are some negative side effects that you should know about before you start taking it. For starters, taking vitamin B3 can cause skin irritation in some people, as well as flushed skin. It can drastically alter your blood sugar level and cause stomach problems if taken over the course of a long period of time. At its worst, vitamin B3 can also cause you to have problems with your liver. Because of these side effects, you should talk with your doctor before taking vitamin B3 to see if it is the best option for you when it comes to treating high cholesterol.

Getting Vitamin B3 through Your Diet

When taken as a supplement, vitamin B3 often exhibits more of the negative side effects than if you get it through your diet. Therefore, you should try and eat more foods that contain vitamin B3 in order to make sure you're getting the supplements you need. Eating foods like chicken, eggs, carrots, beef and liver can help you to naturally absorb vitamin B3. These foods can help you lower your cholesterol when eaten in moderation.

In some situations, vitamin B3 can help your body out and deliver many benefits. However, before you start taking vitamin B3, you should sit down and weigh out the pros and cons. Don't jeopardize your health and your future. Think long and hard about whether vitamin B3 is really the right supplement for you. By simply changing up your diet, you may be able to get all the vitamin B3 you need.